GDC '08 Highlights - Part 1

- Even if you don't know the name Will Wright, you know his work. Sim City? His. The Sims? His. He's been an extremely influencial man in the video game industry. Well, he made a great speech the other night during GDC. Really, it's fantastic. He talks about stories in general, really, so you don't have to be a video game fan to get something out of it. You're likely to learn something about Gilligan's Island, James Bond, Legos, Star Wars, Battlestar Gallactica, Godzilla, or lunchboxes.

Seriously, he connects all of those. It's awesome. And his 'Russian Space Minute'? Fantastic.

- Puzzle Quest Galactrix was announced/shown. Seeing as how I'm biased towards Fantasy as opposed to Sci-fi, I may not enjoy this as much of the original Puzzle Quest... But man, I LOVE the original Puzzle Quest...

- Bionic Commando and Bionic Commando Rearmed. Both look very promising. Rearmed, the 2D remake, should be here around May, which should provide for a lot of fun times.

- Street Fighter IV is playable... And it looks great. Can't wait to try it myself.

- Gears of War 2 is announced, suprising no one in particular. Nothing else is really known, 'cept the idea of chainsaw duels. CHAINSAW DUELS! Maybe this game will actually have a story that is... you know, told?

More later, if something else from the show coverage really catches my eye.

I Have Odds, You Bring the Ends

- Earlier today I came up with a new short story idea that I kinda got excited about in a short amount of time. It may or may not be my first attempt at the "Horror" genre, depending on whether or not "The Witch of Sheridan Peak" counts or not. Regardless, I'll probably try to write that up in the near future (I need to write a short story for a class anyway. Perhaps that will suffice) and send it out to publishers. I've been on a real "get stories bought!" kick lately...

- ...which is why I picked up the 2007 Novel and Short Story Writer's Market at the library last week. I'm gonna find a home for Time Shop, dang it! Idealy, I'd like to have at least three short stories picked up this year. The book ("Tobias") may be a long shot, but I hope for that too.

- My DT review for this week is Professor Layton and the Curious Village. That will likely appear Friday, but if you want an early impression:











- I'm really sick of school, at which I learn little... I also need a new laptop really badly, and still kinda hate poetry, though I do have an odd sensation of fondness for the four poems I was forced to write this semester.

Those are my complaints for today.

- Yes, I bought the guitar pictured below. No, I don't know how to play. I'll start learning later this week when I have the time. I will devote my time to learning Johnny Cash songs for three reasons: 1) Johnny Cash is awesome. 2) The guitar is black, so... You know. 3) It will annoy my buddy Tim. For this reason (as well as reason #1, without the Johnny Cash part) Billy Ray Cyrus songs will also be learned.

- How much would you pay to download Bionic Commando Rearmed? The developers want to know! I personally told them $10, even though they may deserve $15, because this remake will likely be pretty radd (get it?!? Radd! Ha!), even if it doesn't have the exploding head of Adolf Hitler.